Manchester City defender
Micah Richards has been ruled out of action for the first month of the season due to an ankle injury, which he picked up playing in the London 2012 Olympics for Team GB.

Micah Richards picked up an ankle injury playing for Team GB against South Korea at London 2012 (Picture: Getty)

Richards was expected to be fit for City’s season opener against Southampton on Sunday, but has now been ruled out for an additional month.

‘I think it will be three or four more weeks,’ said Mancini.

The problem for Richards adds to the club’s growing injury worries.

Midfielder Gareth Barry is also sidelined with an abdominal problem which kept him out of England’s Euro 2012 campaign, while goalkeeper Joe Hart is a doubt after missing both City’s Community Shield clash with Chelsea and England’s midweek friendly against Italy.

However, the Italian tactician remains hopeful on his first-choice shot-stopper: ‘Joe will train with the team tomorrow, then we will decide.’

The absence of Barry could see new signing Jack Rodwell handed his City debut, after he moved to the Etihad from Everton last weekend.